New York City, including Staten Island, is world famous for many things, including its heavy traffic. To avoid getting stuck in a traffic jam, many Port Richmond residents choose to take Ubers or Lyfts to get around. While this is convenient, it also has some risks. If you are hurt in an accident involving a rideshare vehicle, an attorney can help you figure out how to get compensation.
Accidents with an Uber happen in similar ways to ordinary car accidents. However, there may be special factors present in accident cases involving rideshare cars. Drivers tend to be more distracted because they must have an app open to get paid for their work. Speeding and tired drivers are also very common problems. To start a civil case for damages, we may need to navigate New York’s no-fault car insurance laws. Typically, only drivers with “serious injuries” may file civil cases. Your case turns on evidence. With no evidence, your case might be dead on arrival. We can make use of photos from the accident, medical records of your injuries, witness testimony, and more.
Get a confidential case review for no charge by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 and talking to our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys.
How Accidents Involving Uber or Lyft Often Occur in Port Richmond
Understanding how your vehicle accident happened will help us determine who is responsible. Our Uber and Lyft accident lawyers might also be able to use this knowledge to uncover evidence to support your claims. Accidents with Ubers or Lyfts often involve distracted drivers, speeding, and tired drivers, although other factors might be present, too.
Distracted Drivers
Uber and Lyft drivers are often distracted by the driving app on their phones. The driver’s cell phone is key to their job. They must have it open at all times while driving to stay connected to the Lyft and Uber apps. While cell phones are a major distraction for all drivers, Uber and Lyft drivers must have their phones on constantly. If a driver gets a notification on their phone or is distracted with GPS directions, they are more likely to cause an accident.
It is not unusual to see a driver responding to notifications on their phone while also driving. Although this is very risky, it seems to be a necessary part of a Lyft or Uber driver’s job. This also means accidents from distractions are arguably more common.
Speeding
Speed is an important factor in most car accident cases. Even if speed is not the direct cause of a crash, it tends to make a crash worse. Lyft or Uber drivers may be more likely to speed because of the nature of their jobs. The more rides a driver can complete, the more money they earn. This may incentivize some to drive faster than is safe so they can drop off one passenger and pick up the next one. Most people have probable been in an Uber where the driver was going too fast for their liking or generally driving recklessly. While some make it to their destination fine, others do not.
Driver Fatigue
Many rideshare drivers work long hours on the road. Others might work a full-time job during the day and make extra money by driving at night. Driving late at night is common, as people leaving bars, clubs, and restaurants late at night commonly call Lyft or Uber for a ride. Unfortunately, this means that drivers might be very tired when they are working. If a driver dozes off behind the wheel, they might cause a serious collision. It only takes a moment for a tired driver to veer off the road or crash into another car. If you believe your driver was too tired to drive safely before the accident happened, let your attorney know.
How to Begin a Civil Case for a Port Richmond Uber or Lyft Accident
To start a civil case after an Uber or Lyft vehicle crash, we may need to navigate New York’s insurance laws first. In New York, drivers are required to carry no-fault car insurance in addition to ordinary liability. This personal injury protection (PIP) insurance may cover you regardless of who is actually responsible for the accident. However, injured drivers typically cannot file civil cases unless they have a “serious injury,” according to I.S.C. § 5104(a).
A serious injury is defined under § 5102(d). It may include serious disfigurements, fractures, death, loss of a fetus, dismemberment, the limitation or loss of bodily functions or systems, and non-permanent, medically determined injuries that prevent you from doing normal daily chores for at least 90 days. We should have evidence of your injuries, including photos of injuries and medical records, if possible.
If you do not have a serious injury, there is a chance that your damages are not terribly severe and may be completely covered by insurance. However, serious injuries are somewhat common in Lyft or Uber accidents, and you should ask your attorney about the possibility of initiating a civil case.
Collecting Evidence to Back Up Your Port Richmond Lyft and Uber Accident Case
When we begin gathering evidence to support your case, we may begin with records from the ridesharing app. If you were a passenger, you might have ordered a ride through the app, and there may be records that prove the defendant was your driver. These records might also indicate important details about when you were picked up, the destination, and how long you were in the car before the crash.
Witness testimony, including your testimony, might also be crucial to your case. Other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and anyone else who might have seen the accident should be interviewed to determine if their testimony can help. Multiple witnesses, in addition to your testimony, can help us piece together an accurate picture of the accident for a jury.
Traffic cameras, security cameras, and dash cams might yield incredibly valuable video evidence of the accident. If we believe video evidence is out there, we must find it quickly. Otherwise, it could easily be erased.
Contact Our Port Richmond Uber and Lyft Accident Attorneys About Your Case
Get a confidential case review for no charge by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 and talking to our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys.